I recently returned from a destination that has been on my bucket list for a while: the Galapagos Islands. Whilst this was one of the most expensive trips I have ever done, it was undoubtedly one of the best. I, like most people, was drawn to the Ecuadorian archipelago because of the unique and diverse wildlife species that inhabit the islands.
I expected to learn a lot about the animals there and the trip didn’t disappoint. The thing that surprised me the most however, was just how much of what I learnt is applicable to both my life individually and humanity as a whole. In this post, I’m going to share with you the life lessons I learnt in the Galapagos Islands and just why they are so important.
We only have one planet
This is one sentiment that it is nearly impossible to escape from at the moment. With everything from concerns over plastic waste to climate change, individuals and governments everywhere are finally accepting some responsibility for the mess that the world is in. Through human actions, the planet is dying and we need to do something about it. This was really brought home to me during my trip to the Galapagos.
In comparison to many places I have seen while travelling, there is no doubt that the islands of Galapagos are more litter-free than most. However, I saw rubbish frequently during my visit. If we cannot keep even the Galapagos, with its majestic wildlife and diverse ecosystem, free of trash, then what hope do we have for the rest of the world? More needs to be done, not just on these islands but everywhere.
Another thing the Galapagos showed me was just how much damage we have done to the natural world for the sake of human convenience. When people decided to settle on the islands, they brought livestock and various domesticated animals with them. These species are driving out the endemic wildlife on the Galapagos and as such, many animals are in grave danger of extinction due to depleting numbers. We need to start considering that the world is bigger than the human race and we should preserve the beauty around us – even if this means we have to find an alternative to harvesting it.
For some top tips on reducing your plastic footprint, check out this post!
Everyone needs their Mum sometimes
One evening, during a night stroll around San Cristóbal dock, Tim and I came across a baby sea lion which was screaming to the high heavens. The infant was clearly in distress and it was unclear what was causing this. The man guarding the dock became increasingly concerned and soon began radioing to colleagues about the sea lion in distress. Knowing we were helpless in the situation but not wanting to leave the baby, we stayed nearby to keep an eye on the what was going on.
After what must have been fifteen minutes of panicked howls from the infant, a deep boom echoed in the distance. This began what would become a rapid and panicked exchange between two sea lions. After another five minutes or so, a large female flopped over the rocks the other end of the beach. The baby began to heave itself across the sand towards the female. After a clumsy yet heartfelt reunion, Mum laid down to feed her pup.
This was the most beautiful and emotional thing that I witnessed during my time on the Galapagos Islands and showed me just how powerful and important family is. The inherent need to have support from your loved ones extends far beyond us humans and touches even the most obscure of the wildlife kingdom.
You are what you eat
The Galapagos Islands are home to both Flamingos and Blue Footed Boobys, both of which flaunt a colourful yet surreal appearance. I’ve always thought their brightness makes them look like something out of a storybook! During my visit to the Galapagos, I was keen to find out what gives them their bold colours.
It turns out, both Flamingos and Blue Footed Boobys, get their colourful attributes from the food that they eat. The diet of both birds contains carotenoid pigments which turn them the bright colours they are famous for. According to ThoughtCo, Flamingos eat mostly shrimp and blue-green algae. The Flamingos that eat more algae than shrimp, will be a deeper colour due to an increased concentration of pigments in the algae.
With the Blue-Footed Boobys, carotenoids are concentrated in their feet which is why they turn blue. The more intense this colour is, the more desirable the bird is considered to potential mates.
This got me thinking about my own diet and how that could be affecting my body. Whilst sadly I don’t think I get my red hair from any carotenoids (there were certainly times at school when I would’ve been willing to change my hair colour in any way possible), these birds are a good reminder that the things we consume can impact not just our own wellbeing but also how we appear to the outside world. Maybe a small reminder that every now and then, it is worth choosing the salad over the burger.
The best experiences can still be scary
The highlight of my Galapagos trip was swimming with a playful sea lion on a secluded beach. This was something I had been dying to do since stepping foot on San Cristóbal but I didn’t want to break any of the rules regarding proximity to wildlife. On the islands, there is a two-metre no-go zone around the creatures, for both your safety and to preserve their quality of life. Being an animal lover, I didn’t want to do anything that might threaten or stress the animals.
After our snorkelling trip at Kicker Rock, we were taken to one of the most beautiful beaches I have seen, which is only accessible by boat. I noticed there was a few sea lions laying on the beach and one swimming in the sea. Desperate to cool off in the clear water, I waded in a few metres away from the sea lion with my snorkel. After only a few minutes of snorkelling, the sea lion bolted towards me underwater, curious to see whether I would be a new playmate. I’m not going to lie, this was bloody terrifying!
Sea lions may move in a cumbersome fashion on land but they are quick and elegant under the water, not to mention, very big. Clearly, no-one had told this guy about the two-metre rule as he was just inches from my face. He proceeded to swim playfully with me for around fifteen minutes, every now and then making me jump from another surprise arrival. This is without doubt one of my favourite ever travel moments but there is no denying that for parts of it, I still wanted to cack my pants.
We all need to adapt to change
‘It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.’
-Charles Darwin
As this is an article about the Galapagos Islands, it seems fitting to end with a lesson taught by none other than Darwin himself. Our world is changing a lot right now. Not only is the physical landscape altering but the political climate has shifted and the way we live our lives is inherently different to ever before. Some of this change is good, some of it is bad. Regardless of your opinions on any of it, one thing is certain. The only thing that will ensure our survival in the long term is adapting to these changes and this is action we should be implementing sooner rather than later.
Have you visited these islands? What life lessons did you learn in the Galapagos?
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If you are planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands to learn some life lessons of your own, check out this useful resource for everything you need to know before you visit!
I love this post! It’s so thoughtful and although I’ve never been I agree with each lesson wholeheartedly. It’s amazing how traveling to far away places can bring you back home.
Thanks so much! I didn’t expect the islands to invoke all of these feelings and felt a bit overwhelmed to start with! There is no doubt that we as humans over-hype our own importance so it is good to remind ourselves we are just another cog in the wheel from time to time. I found my visit to the Galapagos to be very humbling, in a strange kind of way.
This is so fantastic, but the trash on the island made me mad. Not because you took the photo, but because it’s amazing to me that people can’t be bothered to carry their trash to a can. GRR. I loved your photos and the story of the baby sea lion. So glad mom found her way to the baby. I would have been nervous about the sea lion swimming around me too, but also think it was so neat!
It surprised me actually, there was more rubbish than I expected to see. It’s so annoying though, like you said it’s such little effort to put stuff in a bin! Thanks for reading 🙂
Wonderful life lessons! Particularly love the first and last one. It’s really devastating to me that even a place like the Galapagos Islands aren’t safe from/free of human thoughtlessness. You would think in such an amazing place, anyone would reconsider their actions. Sadly, this clearly isn’t true.
People are lazy, though. I remember I used to work in a cinema and people would just put things on top of the bins – when they weren’t even full! Fellow employees would do this, as well, and just leave trash lying right next to bins. One of my co-workers was always yelling at them saying, ‘You literally couldn’t be closer to a bin than if you were in it!’ So I always think of that.
I hope we learn our lesson before it’s too late! I’m glad so many travellers and companies are starting to emphasise sustainable and eco-friendly travel. I mean, we all slip up or have our vices, but there are definitely easy things to cut down on. We finally invested in metal straws for our travels. Light and easy to fit in anywhere! And we already have water bottles and a water purifier.
Also, I love the Blue Footed Boobys’ feet! They’re so colourful!
It’s so frustrating! I just don’t understand why people can’t just be a little more considerate. If everyone made the effort to do the little things, it would make a huge difference! Definitely, like you said, we are all prone to slip ups but there are some changes that it is seriously easy to make. I too have switched to a reusable water bottle and also take a canvas shopping bag everywhere. It isn’t a huge change (although I am continuing to try and do more) but it still makes a big difference!
This is amazing! I love that you got so much out of this trip! Thank you for sharing your adventures. It’s funny how much we can learn just by sitting back and observing nature. Absolutely love this post!
Thanks so much! I couldn’t believe just how much this trip made me think about life more generally, it just goes to prove how much we can all learn from travel. Far better than sitting in a classroom too 😉
I love this post!!! So many great reminders and things to focus on that we so easily overlook but are so important. Looks like a trip that was life changing.
Thank you! It was certainly a trip that made me look at things in a new light, that is for sure! I think it is so important to make sure that you check yourself and remember what is important, my trip here definitely did that for me.